January 25, 2008WEEKLY INFO BULLETINTo: Mayor and Members of the City CouncilFrom: Andrew Neiditz, City Manager

Parks & Recreation’s GO Lakewood campaign: Join your community in getting active in 2008! Start the year off right at the GO Lakewood kick-off celebration and registration event at Fort Steilacoom Park on Saturday, January 26th from 10:00am – 1:00pm. GO Lakewood is a community-wide campaign to promote healthy lifestyles. Participants of all ages and fitness levels are encouraged to set goals and report their progress throughout the year. You can register on-site and be on your way to a healthier 2008. Entertainment, demonstrations, vendors, games and activities will be free for this event and a one mile walk/run will be held at 11:00am around Waughop Lake. The highlight of the kick-off celebration will be SNOW and attendees can try one of the fastest growing winter sports; snowshoeing. Snowshoes and poles will be available for people to try a new activity, which requires no previous experience. For more information contact Parks and Recreation at (253) 589-2489, or www.golakewood.cityoflakewood.us
.

Pac Highway Open House for Ponders: Public Works will be hosting an open house with Pac Highway property/business owners on January 30th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Pacific Hwy Fire Station regarding roadway design options for Pacific Highway from Gravelly Lake Drive to Bridgeport Way.

America’s Promise Alliance for Youth designates Lakewood again as one of 100 Best Communities: Lakewood joins Bellevue and Spokane County as one of Washington’s 3-time winners of the “100 Best Communities” status from America’s Promise for its service to young people. The news release states about Lakewood that it has a high transient population due to the military, and that young people in this community attend schools that are committed to student success and have high expectations of not only the students but their parents, and school faculty and staff...

Bridgeport Way at Flanegan Road Retaining Wall: Wall construction on the west side of Bridgeport Way from Flanegan Road to Leach Creek will require closure of the outside southbound lane starting on January 28th. There will be full closure for the first two months of construction and then during daytime hours for the remaining three months of construction. The project is currently scheduled to be completed June 2, 2008.

Police Chief recruitment status: WASPC (the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs) is assisting the city manager in screening applications for the Lakewood police chief position in order to identify finalist candidates. The next step will be to schedule a series of panels to include community members, police department members, and other management staff. The panels will interview and provide advice and input to the appointment process. There will also be a community reception where the general public will be able to meet the candidates.

Economic Development Manager recruitment underway: The City has launched its recruitment effort for a new economic development manager to replace Joe Hannan, who left to take the city administrator position in Mukilteo. The position has been revised to take on more integrated Community Development responsibilities.

Blood Drive: The employee Wellness Committee organized a blood drive through Cascade Regional Blood Services who brought their bloodmobile to City Hall to collect blood donations from City employees on January 22nd in recognition of January as National Blood Donor Month. Cascade was able to collect 17 units, which are broken down, for 51 total units for local hospitals, and they were pleased as blood levels are at an extremely low level. Donations were also given from other citizen donors who saw the bloodmobile at City Hall.

Homeless Count with Neighborhood Police support: The Community Policing team participated in the Pierce County Homeless count on January 24th and 25th. All district NPOs and CSOs were out in the field canvassing their districts on foot in wooded areas, on the railroad tracks, checking abandoned buildings, and culverts. Very few were found on the first day, but the few that were contacted spoke freely with the officers about their situations. A number of homeless individuals left Tacoma after their homeless camp enforcement effort. The focus on the second day was on people living in local motels.

POLICE INCIDENTS

LPD Responds to Unknown Trouble: A female texted her friend and said she was being held at gunpoint by friends at an unknown house in Oakbrook. Dispatch eventually got a hold of the alleged victim on her cell phone. She was not making a lot of sense but was insistent someone was holding her at gunpoint. We located the house and did a surround and call out. Several people were in the residence and none of them knew about a gun. Most of them were sleeping. The alleged victim did admit she recently discovered meth and took some within the last hour. She was arrested for a warrant. Her story appeared to be unfounded but a report was written.